Rating of
3.5/4
The Shining review
Daniel Corleone - wrote on 07/31/13
“Do you have the slightest idea what a moral and ethical principle is? Do you?” Re-watching this again after several years of purchasing a copy on DVD. One of the most artistic, creepy, insightful and detailed horror movies. It starts off with a writer in a job interview named Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson). The interviewer, Manager Stuart Ullman (Barry Nelson), informs Jack about a certain "cabin fever" incident. Chef Dick Hallorann (Scatman Crothers) informs Danny about not going inside Room 237. Jack's wife, Wendy (Shelley Duvall), has Danny (Danny Lloyd) checked after discovering his imaginary friend called Tony. Jack and his family check-in Overlook Hotel where he meets previous caretaker, Grady (Philip Stone) in the Gold Room. So many memorable scenes like the camera following a wandering Danny, the bath tub sequence, Jack with his iconic line after breaking thru and pool of blood.
Screenplay was fantastic with lines: “You would never hurt Mommy or me, would you?” – Danny "I'm looking for a change." "I'd do anything for him." And “Have you ever had a single moment's thought about my responsibilities?”- Jack "Don't be so grouchy." "Everything's going to be alright." - Wendy. The most noticeable highlights on the picture were the exceptional (one of his best) by Jack Nicholson and the young Danny Lloyd. The Making of Documentary provides many wonderful insights from the artists involved and the legendary director’s methods. It even shows the jealousy of Duvall of her famous costar, respect of Kubrick and her health condition. The direction and cinematography were one of the best (ground breaking with the use of a steady cam) for its genre. Its score adds to the tension and liveliness of the picture while the detailed set pieces were impeccable. Some minor observations were how Hallorann got easily killed if he likewise had ESP, no actual explanation to the reason of Jack’s transformation and the uninteresting portrayal of the dive Shelly Duvall. The Shining is one of the influential films of its genre which touches on certain topics such as principles, sacrifice, madness, respect, disharmony and change.
